Best odds, value bets and free tips for the 2015 Australian PGA

Australian PGA Championship. December 3-6. Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast

THE richest of the three Australian golf majors, the Australian PGA Championship, takes place this week on the Gold Coast and it’s disappointing to see a depleted field with the likes of Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott playing in the Hero Challenge.

There are still some quality players lining up however, with American Brandt Snedeker headlining the field and topping the market with bookmakers. Fellow PGA Tour player David Lingmerth emerged hot on the scene this year and he looks to continue his good form in Australia this week.

Australian hopes John Senden, Brett Rumford and Rod Pampling will be looking for their first Australian major win this season and punters believe all three have a strong winning chance.

Australian PGA history and tournament winner market

The Australian PGA Championship is played over 72 holes at Royal Pines and it carries the biggest purse of all three Australian majors. It’s worth AUD $1.75 million and the winner receives the Kirkwood Cup – the oldest trophy in Australian professional golf.

This is only the third time Royal Pines will host the PGA after the Hyatt Regency Coolum hosted it for 11 years running. Some of Australia’s best golfers have won the Kirkwood Cup which includes Adam Scott [2013], Geoff Ogilvy [2008] and Greg Norman [1984/85].

2011 and 2014 winner Greg Chalmers is back to defend his title and punters are getting a very good price. Chalmers is currently over the odds at $46 on a course he knows well.

Australian PGA Championship winning chances

There isn’t much winning form in this tournament, but Brandt Snedeker has nine professional wins to his name, including seven on the PGA Tour and that’s why he is the bookmaker favourite at $10 with CrownBet.com.au.

Snedeker has failed to win on the PGA Tour this year, but his performances in majors this year should give punters plenty of confidence. The 34-year-old finished T-8 in the 2015 US Open and T-12 in the PGA Championship.

That experience will suit him in Australia and he’s one of the best putters on tour, so making the clutch putts on the final day won’t be an issue.

John Senden is a former Australian major winner when he won the 2006 Australian Open over Geoff Ogilvy and it’s about time he won again. Senden won on the PGA Tour last year which was his first win since the Australian Open and he also finished T-8 in the US Masters.

Senden has long been a quality golfer and his recent form indicates a win won’t be far away. Another solid putter, Senden is about as steady as they come and he could take the championship at odds of $13.

On the third line of betting is David Lingmerth who hails from Sweden and after only turning professional in 2010, he has already won on the PGA Tour.

That win came in the Memorial Tournament – one of the PGA Tour’s biggest tournaments, and he was able to defeat Justin Rose in a playoff. He has the ability to start the tournament on fire and he looks a good first round leader bet at $26 with Sportsbet.com.au.

His best finish in a major is a T-12 in the PGA Championship, but he has limited experience and that shouldn’t count against him here. He looks a very strong winning chance at $17 and we’re expecting a solid first round effort, so that price will only drop as the tournament progresses.

Greg Chalmers is our value chance at $46. Last year’s winner is suited by the course and he is generally a player who plays well when he’s familiar with a course. Chalmers doesn’t have to be in hot form to be considered a winning chance and the bookmakers have let him get out to a very nice price.

If you’re looking for some long-shot value, take Chalmers at $46 with Sportsbet.com.au.

The golfers listed below can finish anywhere inside the top 20 to cash. Odds are shorter due to the increased likelihood of the bet coming in, but this is where punters can get value for their long-shot golfers.